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This is Jon. We had a little bit of cabin fever on Sunday morning. Since CWU lost, UW lost, Wazzu lost and the Seahawks were losing, I decided to take a break from football for fear that I was going to go crazy. The girls and I decided to explore. We headed to Lake Cle Elum northwest of the metropolis of Ronald (seriously, about 10 people live there). First we went on a hike along the Cle Elum River to see salmon spawning. Unbelievable. If you consider the work a salmon has to put forth to extend their habitat, it's mind boggling. The girls didn't really understand that aspect, but were able to see quite a few salmon (some where pretty big) struggling against the current.
At the start of the hike. Obviously the girls were excited with my education-based guided tour.
My fellow tour guide.
The girls were coming up along the river. At this point you could make out the salmon under the water and could definitely see and hear the splashing against the water. Again, just amazi…

This is Jon. As if we needed another example my two princesses continue to grow up too quickly, Adelyn's first day of preschool was Monday (and Delaney's first day as a first grader last week, see below post). Adelyn was hot and cold on the whole thing in the days leading up to the big day. We adjusted our enthusiasm accordingly, sometimes talking about it, sometimes getting excited about it and other times not discussing it at all...which obviously screwed everything up.

This is the best photo we could get of Adelyn in the front yard before school. She's not much for standing still for photos and definitely had some anxiety about her first day of school. But she looks so cute here.

I wish I could say she was so excited to get to school that she ran to the car jumping in and was rip roaring to go. Nope. She basically locked herself in the car to take refuge from her parents and the reality of going to school.

This is Jon. I decided that a week's worth of rodeo entertainment in Ellensburg wasn't enough so I headed to Puyallup for a big rodeo there. Throughout the year within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, there is a ProRodeo Tour which designates certain rodeos as "tour" rodeos (Ellensburg is the final tour rodeo of the year) where the money earned on the tour qualifies you for a tour playoff (top 24 in the tour standings) and tour championship (top 12 in the tour standings). The playoff is this weekend in Puyallup. The tour championship is in two weeks in Omaha (I'll probably not make that one). I'll save you from all the nitty-gritty details, but basically, there is a ton of money to be won in Puyallup this weekend. Guys have turned around their seasons with a win at Puyallup. In 2009, defending world champion calf roper Stran Smith needed a big payday to keep his season going. I called him two days prior and asked him if he felt like his back was ag…

This is Jon. Today was Delaney's first day of 1st grade. I can't believe how time flies! Yesterday was the open house where she was able to see her room and check out her desk (although Mrs. K and her classroom were right across the hall from her kindergarten class).
Open house the afternoon before school. Delaney was thrilled to check things out. Her desk is right in the front of the classroom.
Good friend Ruby with Delaney. Ruby and her baby sister Lyla are hanging out with us this fall quarter as her mom finishes up her student teaching. I've learned that like my own kids a few years ago babies don't like me.
Delaney's desk, decorated for the first day of school.
Not sure why this is blurry, but it's a great photo of Delaney at breakfast.
Sisters and best friends forever!
Daddy, DRae and Addy!
The ladies getting ready to walk to school...
Excited Delaney right outside of her classroom.
I should've taken a picture of Brittany outside of …

This is Jon. Another Ellensburg Rodeo is in the books (for the 89th time) and like every year there was plenty of action and not much proof (by photos at least) we were there. It's always a favorite and very busy time for both of us. Got to hang out with a lot of friends and favorites over Labor Day. Below are a few pics from the weekend.

This was taken Saturday Night at the Xtreme Bulls Championship. This is always a guaranteed sellout (roughly 10,000 people) at the arena. Lots of fire, fireworks, explosions and some crazy bull riding. Fans may notice my new Cinch shirt. I fill it out well, I'm not gonna lie.

As you can tell, where Brittany and I set up shop are right next to the roughstock chutes. We get very close to the action. It's a good thing when I say I had a mixture of dirt, manure and drool on me from the action. You can't put a price on that.

My favorite statistician, who just finished her 12th Ellensburg Rodeo with me.
Here's a link of some of the article…

This is Jon. Today the Guddats made the annual trip to the Kittitas County Fair and we had to be carried out of the place. This year we decided to splurge and buy all day ride wristbands for the girls. We got our money's worth within the first 30 minutes, easy. We ate well, saw so many friends and enjoyed the animals. I of course, went straight to the 4H and FFA barns to compare their produce to mine, more specifically my tomatoes. I think I would have given them a run for their money. I wasn't confident in my tomatoes, so I didn't enter. Rookie mistake.

Adelyn drivin' Delaney around in a jalopy. Brittany said this looks like Drivin' Miss Daisy.

So for some reason, it took the girls a little bit to get up the courage to go on the rides. We finally got them on the jalopy ride and then Adelyn decided that she was done with it all.